On the Third Day…’Q-16 and the Eye to All Worlds’ by A.A. Jankiewicz

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What challenge must the Minotaurs pass at the age of twenty five?

Q-16 and the Eye to All WorldsExcerpt from the History of the Four ForcesBy Puc Thanestorm

Minotaurs

The fearless warrior race of the planet Aerim, hailing from the vast cities of Morwick (their capital), Ferrun, Ironstar and Darmoth, these giant brutes are a force to be reckoned with. Master craftsmen (or craftsbeasts as they call themselves), they are versed in the knowledge of stone and steel, a legacy of battling giants shaping those inhabitants that call themselves Minotaur.
Close to ten feet tall, they appear humanoid. They stand on two hooves, are covered completely with fur and have the face of a bull. The only thing betraying them as intelligent beings are their eyes. They generally weigh close to two tons when in full regalia. In battle, they are tanks that can rarely be stopped by conventional means and it does not take many of them to be present for a white flag to go up. Both male and female Minotaurs are trained in combat to ensure survival in the harsh Aerim terrain. They can live up to one hundred and fifty years. The childhood of a Minotaur does not last long, spanning only about four years, after which their growth increases rapidly. This is most likely a defense mechanism that never died out in the species due to their constant warring with the giants on the planet. Young Minotaurs out in the wild would not have lasted long before the great cities were built.
The cities of the Minotaurs all seem similar in their architecture. Unlike the Elven cities that can manifest some form of architectural beauty, the Minotaur cannot afford such luxuries and are focused on one thing only, survival. The walls of each city form a maze of black stone that rises over fifty feet, eclipsing the sky from those who go through it. Guards are posted within the labyrinth to make sure no one unwelcome gets in, in addition to the secondary wall which outlines the cities themselves with massive iron gates. As a right of passage, each Minotaur (usually by the age of twenty five) is placed within the training labyrinth in the city academy and must maneuver their way out in order to prove that they are ready to take on the trials of combat and duty. A Minotaur’s senses are highly attuned to navigation, their hearing said to be so sharp they can hear water running behind a six foot thick wall and know how to get to it based on just that.
The Minotaurs are ruled by a single monarch who resides within the capital city of Morwick at Stoneberg castle. Monarch succession is decided through bloodline. Should an heir not be found, an election is held by the war council along with the wardens of the other three cities. Candidates are selected based upon military expertise, seeing as the Minotaur value this prowess most. A strong leader is one who can defend his people in their hour of need.
Though some Minotaurs converted in Unaverisim after the arrival of Orbeyus and the Elves, many stayed with the old ways. The majority of the Minotaur still worship the old gods. Votan, the god of battle, Veur, the god of blacksmithing and Rym, the goddess of wisdom. There are lesser gods within the religion which perform other functions, but they are more so regarded on the same level that the human Christian religion regards saints.Find out a bit more about the author…
A.A. Jankiewicz (known to most as Agnes) hails from the city of Pickering, Ontario. Her debut novel Q-16 and the Eye to All Worlds was published as part of her thesis project at Durham College as part of the Contemporary Media Design Program. Prior to that, she graduated from York University with a BFA in Film Theory, Historiography and Criticism. When she’s not busy plotting the next great adventure, writing, doodling, tinkering in the Adobe suite programs or mellowing out with her friends, she enjoys walks with her four-legged companion Meesha. She is currently working on the next instalment in the Q-16 series.
You can find out more at her Website or get in touch for a chat on Facebook and Twitter.

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Neat blog post and challenge Agnes.
By the age of 25 each Minotaur is placed within the training labyrinth in the city academy and must maneuver their way out in order to prove that they are ready to take on the trials of combat and duty.
Good luck with this idea.